Nicosia:UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín, conducted a meeting on Thursday afternoon with the co-chairs of the 13 Bicommunal Technical Committees on the island.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the meeting was highlighted in a post on X by the UN in Cyprus, which stated that the committees, facilitated by the UN Good Offices Mission, play a crucial role in fostering trust, enhancing cooperation, and addressing pivotal issues affecting communities across Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite numerous rounds of UN-led peace negotiations, a resolution has remained elusive, largely due to Turkish intransigence. The most recent negotiations, held in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, concluded without results.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as his term approaches its end, has announced plans to organize another meeting in a broader format, contingent upon adequate preparation, though no specific timeline has been provided. Guterres has secured the agreement of both sides and the guarantor powers for this initiative. Holguín, as Guterres' Personal Envoy, is responsible for engaging with the relevant parties. Meanwhile, Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto serves as the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus, following EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.